Content item sharing and synchronization system with team shared folders

ABSTRACT

A content item sharing and synchronization system providing team shared folders is described. Users of the system have access to the team shared folder simply by being a member of a team. A team account manager of the team can grant access to the team shared folder simply by inviting selected users to the team. Similarly, the team account manager can revoke access to the team shared folder simply by removing a user from the team. Unlike typical network file server folders, separate access control list management for the team shared folder apart from user team membership management is not needed to grant and revoke access to the team shared folder, thereby reducing administrative steps necessary to effectively manage access to the team shared folder.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 120 as acontinuation of application Ser. No. 15/242,144, filed on Aug. 19, 2016;which is a continuation of Ser. No. 13/891,042, filed on May 9, 2013,now U.S. Pat. No. 9,426,216, issued on Aug. 23, 2016; which claims thebenefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of provisional application 61/775,658,filed on Mar. 10, 2013. The entire contents of each of theabove-mentioned applications is hereby incorporated by reference for allpurposes as if fully set forth herein. The applicants hereby rescind anydisclaimer of claim scope in the parent applications or the prosecutionhistory thereof and advise the USPTO that the claims in this applicationmay be broader than any claim in the parent applications.

COPYRIGHT STATEMENT

A portion of this disclosure of this patent document may containmaterial which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright ownerhas no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patentdocument or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent andTrademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves allcopyright rights whatsoever.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to sharing digital content and,more specifically, to sharing digital content using team shared folders.

BACKGROUND

Historically, users in an organization shared digital content with otherusers in the organization by hand carrying or otherwise transportingportable physical media such as floppy disks between computers. Inrecent years, however, data networks that interconnect computers allowusers to send digital content to each other without having to transportphysical media. For example, a user can send a file to another user asan attachment to an e-mail message. The digital content could includefiles, documents, audio, video, images, and other types of digitalcontent.

Today, in addition to historical methods, users share digital content bymaking it available for access on network file servers. Generally, anetwork file server (or just “file server”) is a computer attached to anetwork providing a central location for shared storage of digitalcontent. Typically, users create, update, modify, and delete shareddigital content at the file server from their computer workstationswhich are also attached to the same network.

For example, a director of a sales department may create a file folderfor containing pertinent sales team documents on the shared storage of acompany file server for access by members of her sales team.Unfortunately, the sales director may not be able to provide access tothe folder to her team members without coordinating with the company ITadministrator, who in many organizations is overburdened and overworked.This is because in many organizations only the IT administrator isauthorized to change access permissions associated with shared digitalcontent on file servers.

A related problem is that a file server folder may be created withdefault permissions that are too permissive. For example, the fileserver folder created by the sales director may have default permissionsthat allow all employees in the company to access the folder which maynot be desired by the sales director. Again, because of company policy,the sales director may have to coordinate with the IT administrator torestrict access to the folder to only her sales team, which can be afrustrating and time-consuming process.

Yet another problem with using network file server folders for sharingcontent is that users may not have access to the folders when the fileserver is unavailable or blocked (e.g., when users attempt to access thefile server from outside the company network firewall), thereby makingthe users less productive in disconnected network environments.

What is needed is a solution for sharing digital content within a teamof users. The solution should reduce administrative steps necessary togrant and revoke team member access to shared digital content. Thesolution should also facilitate access to shared content in disconnectednetwork environments. The present invention provides a solution forthese and other needs.

SUMMARY OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

A content item sharing and synchronization system providing team sharedfolders is disclosed and described. The appended set of claims providesa summary of some embodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a very general block diagram of a computer system in whichsoftware-implemented processes of the present invention may be embodied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a networked computing environmentthat includes a content item sharing and synchronization system inaccordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for creating a teamaccording to some embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for accepting aninvitation to join a team according to some embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for deactivating the teamshared folder of a team according to some embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for activating the teamshared folder of a team according to some embodiments of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Introduction

Referring to the figures, exemplary embodiments of the invention willnow be described. The following description will focus on a presentlypreferred embodiment of the present invention, which implemented indesktop, mobile, and/or server software operating an Internet-connectedenvironment running under an operating system, such as the MicrosoftWindows operating system. The present invention, however, is not limitedto any one particular application or any particular environment.Instead, those skilled in the art will find that the system and methodsof the present invention may be advantageously embodied on a variety ofdifferent platforms, including Linux, UNIX, Mac OS X, and the like.Therefore, the description of the exemplary embodiments that follows isfor purposes of illustration and not limitation. The exemplaryembodiments are primarily described with reference to block diagrams orflowcharts. As to the flowcharts, each block within the flowchartrepresents both a method step and an apparatus element for performingthe method step. Depending on the implementation, the correspondingapparatus element may be configured in hardware, software, firmware, orcombinations thereof.

Computer-Based Implementation

The computer-implemented techniques of the present invention may beimplemented by one or more special-purpose computing devices. Thespecial-purpose computing devices may be hard-wired to perform thetechniques, or may include digital electronic devices such as one ormore application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) or fieldprogrammable gate arrays (FPGAs) that are persistently programmed toperform the techniques, or may include one or more general purposehardware processors programmed to perform the techniques pursuant toprogram instructions in firmware, memory, other storage, or acombination. Such special-purpose computing devices may also combinecustom hard-wired logic, ASICs, or FPGAs with custom programming toaccomplish the techniques. The special-purpose computing devices may bedesktop computer system, server computer systems, portable computersystems, handheld electronic devices, networking devices or any othercomputing device that incorporates hard-wired and/or program logic toimplement the techniques.

For example, FIG. 1 is a block diagram that illustrates a computersystem 100 upon which an embodiment of the invention can be implemented.Computer system 100 includes a bus 102 or other communication mechanismfor communicating information, and a hardware processor 104 coupled withbus 102 for processing information. Hardware processor 104 can be, forexample, a general-purpose microprocessor. Although only one hardwareprocessor 104 is shown in FIG. 1, computer system 100 can have more thanone hardware processor 104 coupled to bus 102 for processinginformation.

Computer system 100 also includes a main memory 106, such as arandom-access memory (RAM) or other dynamic storage device, coupled tobus 102 for storing information and instructions to be executed byprocessor 104. Main memory 106 also can be used for storing temporaryvariables or other intermediate information during execution ofinstructions to be executed by processor 104. Such instructions, whenstored in non-transitory storage media accessible to processor 104,render computer system 100 into a special-purpose machine that iscustomized to perform the operations specified in the instructions.

Computer system 100 further includes a read only memory (ROM) 108 orother static storage device coupled to bus 102 for storing staticinformation and instructions for processor 104. A storage device 110,such as a magnetic disk or optical disk, is provided and coupled to bus102 for storing information and instructions.

Computer system 100 can be coupled via bus 102 to a display 112, such asa liquid crystal display (LCD), for displaying information to a computeruser. An input device 114, including alphanumeric and other keys, iscoupled to bus 102 for communicating information and command selectionsto processor 104. Another type of user input device is cursor control116, such as a mouse, a trackball, or cursor direction keys forcommunicating direction information and command selections to processor104 and for controlling cursor movement on display 112. This inputdevice typically has two degrees of freedom in two axes, a first axis(e.g., x) and a second axis (e.g., y), that allows the device to specifypositions in a plane.

A touch-sensitive surface can overlay display 112 as an input device 114to form a touch-sensitive display that provides an input interface andan output interface between the system 100 and a user. Thetouch-sensitive surface can be a sensor or set of sensors that acceptsinput from the user based on haptic and/or tactile contact. Contact withthe touch-sensitive surface can be made by the user with a stylus or setof styluses or a finger or a set of fingers. The touch-sensitive surfacecan detect contact and any movement or breaking thereof using any of aplurality of touch sensing techniques now known or later developedincluding, but not limited to, capacitive, resistive, infrared, andacoustic wave techniques, as well as other proximity sensor arrays orother elements for detecting one or more points of contact, movement ofcontact, and breaking of contact with the touch-sensitive surface.

Although display 112, input device 114, and cursor control 116 areillustrated outside the dashed box representing computer system 100 inFIG. 1, it should be understood that one or more of display 112, inputdevice 114, and cursor control 116 can be part of the form factor of thecomputer system 100. For that matter, although main memory 106, ROM 108,storage device 110, bus 102, processor 104, and communication interface118 are illustrated inside the dashed box representing computer system100, it should be understood that one or more of these components can beexternal to the form factor of the computer system 100 and operativelycoupled to the form factor through a peripheral interface.

Computer system 100 can implement the techniques described herein usingcustomized hard-wired logic, one or more ASICs or FPGAs, firmware and/orprogram logic which, in combination with the computer system, causes orprograms computer system 100 to be a special-purpose machine. Accordingto one embodiment, the techniques herein are performed by computersystem 100 in response to processor 104 executing one or more sequencesof one or more instructions contained in main memory 106. Suchinstructions can be read into main memory 106 from another storagemedium, such as storage device 110. Execution of the sequences ofinstructions contained in main memory 106 causes processor 104 toperform the process steps described herein. In alternative embodiments,hard-wired circuitry can be used in place of or in combination withsoftware instructions.

The term “storage media” as used herein refers to any non-transitorymedia that store data and/or instructions that cause a machine tooperation in a specific fashion. Such storage media can comprisenon-volatile media and/or volatile media. Non-volatile media includes,for example, optical or magnetic disks, such as storage device 110.Volatile media includes dynamic memory, such as main memory 106. Commonforms of storage media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexibledisk, hard disk, solid state drive, magnetic tape, or any other magneticdata storage medium, a CD-ROM, any other optical data storage medium,any physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, and EPROM, aFLASH-EPROM, NVRAM, any other memory chip or cartridge.

Storage media is distinct from but can be used in conjunction withtransmission media. Transmission media participates in transferringinformation between storage media. For example, transmission mediaincludes coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including thewires that comprise bus 102. Transmission media can also take the formof acoustic or light waves, such as those generated during radio-waveand infra-red data communications.

Various forms of media can be involved in carrying one or more sequencesof one or more instructions to processor 104 for execution. For example,the instructions can initially be carried on a magnetic disk orsolid-state drive of a remote computer. The remote computer can load theinstructions into its dynamic memory and send the instructions over atelephone line using a modem. A modem local to computer system 100 canreceive the data on the telephone line and use an infra-red transmitterto convert the data to an infra-red signal. An infra-red detector canreceive the data carried in the infra-red signal and appropriatecircuitry can place the data on bus 102. Bus 102 carries the data tomain memory 106, from which processor 104 retrieves and executes theinstructions. The instructions received by main memory 106 canoptionally be stored on storage device 110 either before or afterexecution by processor 104.

Computer system 100 also includes a communication interface 118 coupledto bus 102. Communication interface 118 provides a two-way datacommunication coupling to a network link 120 that is connected to alocal network 122. For example, communication interface 118 can be anintegrated service digital network (ISDN) card, cable modem, satellitemodem, or a modem to provide a data communication connection to acorresponding type of telephone line. As another example, communicationinterface 118 can be a local area network (LAN) card to provide a datacommunication connection to a compatible LAN. Wireless links can also beimplemented. In any such implementation, communication interface 118sends and receives electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals thatcarry digital data streams representing various types of information.

Network link 120 typically provides data communication through one ormore networks to other data devices. For example, network link 120 canprovide a connection through local network 122 to a host computer 124 orto data equipment operated by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) 126.ISP 126 in turn provides data communication services through the worldwide packet data communication network now commonly referred to as the“Internet” 128. Local network 122 and Internet 128 both use electrical,electromagnetic or optical signals that carry digital data streams. Thesignals through the various networks and the signals on network link 120and through communication interface 118, which carry the digital data toand from computer system 100, are example forms of transmission media.

Computer system 100 can send messages and receive data, includingprogram code, through the network(s), network link 120 and communicationinterface 118. In the Internet example, a server 130 might transmit arequested code for an application program through Internet 128, ISP 126,local network 122 and communication interface 118.

The received code can be executed by processor 104 as it is received,and/or stored in storage device 110, or other non-volatile storage forlater execution.

The above-described computer hardware is presented for purposes ofillustrating the basic underlying desktop, mobile, and server computercomponents that can be employed for implementing the present invention.For purposes of discussion, the following description will presentexample in which it will be assume that there exists a “server” (e.g., aweb server, capable of hosting methods of the present invention as webservices) that communicates with one or more “clients” (e.g., desktop,mobile, and portable computers, from which users log on to the server inorder to use the web services). The present invention, however, is notlimited to any particular environment or device configuration. Inparticular, a client/server distinction is not necessary to theinvention, but is simply a suggested framework for implementing thepresent invention. Instead, the present invention can be implemented inany type of system architecture or processing environment capable ofsupporting the methodologies of the present invention presented indetail below, including implementing the methodologies on a standalonecomputer (i.e., where users log on to the same computer that thecomputer-implemented methodologies are implemented). Additionally, thefollowing description will focus on content item hosting serviceproviders (e.g., Dropbox, Inc. of San Francisco, Calif., which providescloud storage, file or folder synchronization, and client software tousers) in order to simply the discussion. However, those skilled in theart will appreciate that the system and methodologies of the presentinvention can be advantageously provided by different types of serviceproviders.

Overview of Team Shared Folders

Classically, shared file system folders have been centralized, such ason a network file server or a network attached storage device.Typically, administrators gave access to such folders by adding users toaccess control lists associated with the folders. If the administratorforgot to add a user to the access control list, the user didn't haveaccess to the folder. Similarly, if the administrator forgot to remove auser from the access control list, the user had access to the folderafter access was no longer authorized. Further, if the network to thefile server was down or the file server was otherwise inaccessible,users did not have access to the folder.

In accordance with the present invention, a team shared folder isintroduced. Users have access to the team shared folder simply by beinga member of the team. A team account manager of the team can grantaccess to the team shared folder simply by inviting selected users tothe team. Similarly, the team account manager can revoke access to theteam shared folder simply by removing a user from the team. Unliketypical network file server folders, separate access control listmanagement for the team shared folder apart from user team membershipmanagement is not needed to grant and revoke access to the team sharedfolder, thereby reducing administrative steps necessary to effectivelymanage access to the team shared folder.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the teamshared folder is stored at a server and synchronized with copies of theteam shared folder on linked client computing devices of team members.Since the linked computing devices have copies of the team sharedfolder, the team members can access the team shared folder contents evenwhen network access to the server is unavailable.

In one usage scenario, after the team account manager invites a user tothe team and the user accepts the invitation, the current contents ofthe team shared folder at the server are automatically synchronized withthe new user's computing device. This automatic synchronization createsa copy of the team shared folder and its contents at the new user'scomputing device which can be accessed by the new user even when networkaccess to the server is unavailable.

In another usage scenario, after the team account manager removes a userfrom the team, the copies of the team shared folder at the removeduser's linked computing devices are automatically deleted. Thisautomatic deletion prevents the removed user having access to the teamshared folder after the user is no longer a member of the team.

The architecture and operation of an example content item sharing andsynchronization system implementing team shared folders will now bedescribed in further detail.

Networked Computing Environment

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating networked computing environment200 that includes content item sharing and synchronization (CISS) system210 in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.Environment 200 includes different types of users 212 viewed from theperspective of CISS system 210.

User Accounts

Users 212 can have accounts with the CISS system 210. CISS system 210can store user account information in an account database (not shown).User accounts can be associated with credential information. Credentialinformation is any information CISS system 210 can use to authenticateusers 212. Non-limiting examples of credential information includeusername and password information and digital cryptographic certificateinformation. Users 212 can authenticate with CISS system 210 bypresenting valid credential information. For example, a user canauthenticate with CISS system 210 by presenting a valid username andpassword associated with an account.

Authenticated Sessions

When a user 212 successfully authenticates with CISS system 210 bypresenting valid credential information, CISS system 210 establishes anauthenticated session for the user 212. The authenticated session allowsthe user 212 to interact with the CISS system 210 over a period of timewithout requiring the user 212 to present valid credential informationfor each interaction. CISS system 210 can establish an authenticatedsession using a wide variety of mechanisms depending on the requirementsof the implementation at hand and the present invention is not limitedto any particular manner for establishing the authenticated session.

In some embodiments, CISS system 210 establishes authenticated sessionsby sending a small piece of data to the users' 212 client computingdevices 214 that is stored at the client computing devices 214. Thissmall piece of data is sometimes referred to as a “cookie” or “browsercookie”. Each cookie can contain information that uniquely identifiesthe authenticated session to which the cookie pertains. Cookies can beincluded in network requests 220 and network responses 222 sent betweenclient computing devices 214 and CISS system 210. CISS system 210 canuse the authenticated session information in the cookies to identify theusers 212 making the network requests 220. While browser cookies areused in some embodiments to establish authenticated sessions for users212, other mechanisms can be used in other embodiments. For example, analternative to using browser cookies could include CISS system 210embedding authenticated session information in uniform resource locators(URLs) of web pages served by CISS system 210 to client computingdevices 214 in network responses 222.

User Interaction

Users 212 interact with CISS system 210 in the context of anauthenticated session. User interaction can involve users 212 sendingnetwork requests 220 to CISS system 210 from their client computingdevices 214. User 212 interaction also involve users 212 receivingnetwork responses 222 at their client computing devices 214 from CISSsystem 210 in response to the network requests 220.

Users 212 can cause network requests 220 using one or more differenttypes of client applications (not shown) executing on client computingdevices 214. Users 212 can receive network responses 222 also at theclient applications. Typically, network requests 220 will be caused byusers 212 interfacing with graphical user interfaces (GUIs) presented tousers 212 by the client applications at client computing devices 214.Such interfacing can include, but is not limited to, entering text intoa text form field and activating a GUI element (e.g., a button, a menu,checkbox, etc.) using a pointing device (e.g., a mouse) or atouch-gesture on a touch-screen display. Typically, network responses222 contain presentation information that can be used by the clientapplications to render and display the GUIs. In some embodiments, thedifferent types of client applications include standard web browsingsoftware (e.g., INTERNET EXPLORER, CHROME, FIREFOX, OPERA, SAFARI, orthe like), mobile web applications, and dedicated “thick-client”software applications. In some embodiments, network requests 220 andnetwork responses 222 are formatted in accordance with the Hyper TextTransfer Protocol (HTTP) or the Secure-Hyper Text Transfer Protocol(HTTPS). In some embodiments, the presentation information is formattedin accordance with the HyperText Markup Language (HTML) and theJAVASCRIPT programming language. However, it should be understood thatnetwork requests 220, network responses 222, and presentationinformation can be formatted in a wide variety of different waysaccording to the requirements of the particular implementation at handand the present invention is not limited to any particular formattingscheme.

Content Items

User accounts stored at CISS system 210 can be associated with a set ofcontent items also stored at CISS system 210. Content items can include,but are not limited to, files and folders. A file can be any namedlogical collection of data. Files can include, but are not limited to,digital documents (e.g., .DOC, .PDF, .XLS, .TXT, and other document filetypes), digital audio files (e.g., .WAV, .M4A, .MP3, .AAC, and otherdigital audio file types), digital video files (e.g., .AVI, .MOV, .MP4,and other video file types) and digital image file (e.g., JPEG, .TIFF,GIF, PNG, and other image file types). A folder is a named logicalcollection of one or more files and/or one or more folders. A contentitem that is associated with only one user account can be consideredprivate to that account. A content item that is associated with morethan one user account can be considered shared between the accounts.

CISS system 210 can support version history with respect to contentitems stored at CISS system 210. The version history can also be storedin the form a content item journal similar to a file system journal, forexample. The version history can allow users 212 to recover previouslydeleted content items from the version history. Similarly, the versionhistory can allow users 212 to restore previous versions of contentitems that have been edited. The version history for a content item canbe a sliding window (e.g., the past 30 days) or since the content itemwas created.

Teams

A user account can belong to a “team” of accounts. A team is a set ofone or more user accounts. For example, a business may have a “sales”team, a “marketing” team, a “finance” team, etc. A user account thatbelongs to a team is referred to herein as a “team account”. At leastone team account of a team is for a team account manager. The teamaccount manager has special privileges with respect to the team. Inparticular, the team account manager can invite other users to the team,can remove users from the team, can activate the team shared folder, anddeactivate the team shared folder. These operations that can beperformed by the team account manager are described in greater detailbelow.

Users 212, including team account managers, that authenticate with ateam account associated with a team are referred to herein as “teammembers” of the team. Users 212 that authenticate with an account notassociated with the team are referred to herein as “non-team members”with respect to that team. For example, in FIG. 2 some users 212 areshown as being members of team “Alpha” while others users 212 are shownas being non-team members with respect to team “Alpha”. Further, whileonly one team, namely team “Alpha”, is shown in FIG. 2, it should beunderstood that CISS system 210 can support more than one team (e.g.,hundreds or thousands or more teams). Further, a non-team member withrespect to a team can be a member of one or more other teams. Forexample, non-team members 212 shown in FIG. 2 that are not members ofteam “Alpha” may each be members of one or more other teams. Similarly,a team member of a particular team can be also be a member of one ormore other teams, including teams that non-team members of theparticular team are members of Thus, the terms “team member” and“non-team member” as used herein are relative to a particular team.

Linked Client Computing Devices

Users 212 use client computing devices 214 to interact with CSS system210. Client computing devices 214 can include mobile computing devices,stationary computing devices, and portable computing devices. Mobilecomputing devices 214 can include mobile phones and smart phones. Mobilecomputing devices 214 can be configured with a mobile operating systemsuch as ANDROID, BLACKBERRY, IOS, S40, WINDOWS PHONE, WINDOWS 8, WINDOWSRT, or the like. Stationary computing devices 214 can include desktopcomputers, workstation computers, and server computers. Stationarycomputing devices 214 can be configured with a desktop or serveroperating system such as WINDOWS, MAX OS X, UNIX, LINUX, FREEBSD, andthe like. Stationary computing devices 214 can also include set-topcomputing devices such as gaming consoles, digital media players, orother set-top computing devices operatively coupled to a television.Portable computing devices 214 include tablet computers and laptopcomputers. Tablet computers can be configured with a mobile operatingsystem such as one of the mobile operating systems listed above or adesktop or server operating system such as one of the desktop or serveroperating systems listed above. Laptop computers can be configured witha desktop or server operating system such as one of the desktop orserver operating systems listed above.

When a user 212 successfully authenticates with an account from a clientcomputing device 214, CSS system 210 can “link” the client computingdevice 214 to the account. A link between a client computing device 214and an account can be based on a unique device identifier of the clientcomputing device 214. For example, CSS system 210 can link a clientcomputing device 214 and an account by storing an association betweenthe account and the device's identifier in the account database. A user212 can link multiple of his or her client computing devices 214 to thesame account by successfully authenticating with the account from eachof the multiple devices 214.

Content Item Client Synchronization Agents

A client synchronization agent (not shown) can be installed on each of auser's 212 linked client computing devices 214. The clientsynchronization agent installed on a linked client computing device 214is configured to communicate and interoperate with CSS system 210 tokeep the contents of a client-side content item repository stored at thelinked client computing device 214 synchronized with the set of contentitems associated with an account. Thus, the client-side content itemrepository can also be considered to be associated with the account. Forthe purpose of providing clear examples, the client-side content itemrepository stored at a client computing device 214 and associated withan account is referred to hereinafter as a “client repository” and theset of content items associated with the account stored at CSS system210 is referred to hereinafter as a “server repository”. While the term“repository” is used in both references, it should be understood that aclient repository can take a different form than a server repository.For example, a client repository can be a collection of file systemfiles and folders stored and managed by the operating system file systemof the client computing device at which the client repository is stored.In contrast, the server repository may be stored in a distributed filesystem on one or more server computing devices.

To synchronize a client repository with a server repository, the clientsynchronization agent can send 224 and receive 226 synchronization datato and from CSS system 210. The synchronization data can be formattedaccording to an application-level networking protocol such as HTTP orHTTPS. The synchronization agent can run continuously on the clientcomputer device 214 and can send 224 and receive 226 the synchronizationdata automatically without requiring user 212 interaction.

The synchronization agent and CSS system 210 implement a synchronizationprotocol for keeping the client repository on which the synchronizationagent is installed synchronized with the server repository. A widevariety of synchronization protocols may be used depending on therequirements of the implementation at hand and the present invention isnot limited to any particular synchronization protocol. For example, thesynchronization protocol can be based on delta encoding techniques sothat only portions of content items that are changed are sent 224 andreceived 226 over the data network.

In some embodiments of the synchronization protocol, after a clientrepository is changed, the synchronization agent sends 224 the change toCSS system 210 to be applied to the server repository. The change caninclude adding a content item to the client repository, modifying acontent item in the client repository, or deleting a content item in theclient repository. In some embodiments, multiple changes to the clientrepository are sent 224 to CSS system 210 in a batch to reduce networkcommunications.

Cross-Device Synchronization

As discussed above, a user 212 can have multiple devices 214 linked toan account. Each of those linked devices can have a synchronizationagent installed and a client repository. In some embodiments of thesynchronization protocol, changes made to one of the client repositoriesare synchronized to the other client repositories through the serverrepository. In particular, the cross-device synchronization can involvethe device 214 with the changed client repository sending 224 the changeto CSS system 210 which applies the change to the server repository.After applying the change to the server repository, the CSS system 210then sends 226 the change to the synchronization agents on each of theuser's 212 other linked devices 214 to be applied to the other clientrepositories. In this way, a change to a client repository at one of theuser's linked devices 214 is replicated to the client repositories ofthe other of the user's linked devices 214.

Cross-User Synchronization

As discussed above, a content item can be private to one account orshared among multiple accounts. In some embodiments of thesynchronization protocol, when a content item is private to an account,changes to the content item are synchronized only among the devices 214linked to the account. For example, a private job performance reviewfolder associated with an account may be synchronized only among auser's 212 laptop computer 214 and the user's 212 workstation computer214. A shared content item, on the other hand, can be synchronized amongall devices 214 linked to all of the accounts the content item is sharedamongst. For example, a shared sales team folder may be synchronizedamong all devices 214 linked to all user accounts that the sales teamfolder is shared with.

Conflict Resolution

In some embodiments of the synchronization protocol, if the same sharedcontent item is changed in two different client repositories of twodifferent devices 214 at the same time, CSS system 210 does not attemptto merge the changes when received 224. Instead, CSS system 210separately saves the conflicting changes in two versions of the sharedcontent item. One version contains the changes to the shared contentitem received 224 from one of the devices 214 and the other versioncontains the changes to the shared content item received 224 from theother device 214.

While in some embodiments conflicts are not merged, it should beunderstood that CSS system 210 could automatically merge conflictsaccording to a heuristic or a set of heuristics, which may beuser-configurable.

Team Shared Folders

A team shared folder is a special shared content item folder associatedwith a team. The team shared folder can contain contents in the form oneor more shared files and/or one or more shared folders. Thus, the teamshared folder can be arranged in a file/folder hierarchy with the teamshared folder being the root folder of the file/folder hierarchy.

The team shared folder has at least two states: active and inactive.When active, the team shared folder and all of its contents are sharedwith all team members. When inactive, the team shared folder and all ofits contents are shared with only team members that are team accountmanagers of the team. Further, when inactive, the team shared for andall of its contents are removed from all linked computing devices of allteam members that are not team account managers. When active, the teamshared folder and all of its contents are synchronized with the clientrepositories on all linked computing devices of all team members.

When synchronized to a client repository of a team member's linkedcomputing device, the team shared folder can correspond to an operatingsystem file system folder. The team shared folder contents correspond tooperating system file system files and folders contained in theoperating system file system folder corresponding to the team sharedfolder.

Creating a Team

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for creating a teamaccording to some embodiments of the present invention. Such a methodcan be performed by one or more computing devices. For example, one ormore steps of the example method shown can be performed by CISS system210. Although steps are depicted in FIG. 3 as being performed in acertain order, some steps can be performed in a different order thandepicted and/or performed concurrently with other steps.

In block 302, a request to create a team is received from a user 212.Receiving the request can involve receiving one or more network requests220 from a client computing device 214 used by the user 212.

The request to create the team can be received in at least two differentcontexts. In one context, the request to create the team is received aspart of a request to create a new account with CISS system 210. Inanother context, the request to create the team is received as part of arequest to convert an existing account of the user 212 to a teamaccount. In both contexts, the resulting account is a team account ofthe user 212 and associated with the new team.

The request to create the team account can include information providedby the user for creating the team account. The user 212 can provide theinformation through a graphical user interface presented at the user's212 client computing device 214. Such information can include a name forthe team such as, for example, “Sales Team”. Such information can alsoinclude a specification of one or more other users 212 to invite to theteam. For example, the specification can be in the form of e-mailaddresses, usernames, or other account identifiers of the one or moreinvitees. Further, such information can include a specification ofwhether the team shared folder is active or inactive.

In block 304, CISS system 210 creates the team by storing metadata in adatabase or datastore. The stored metadata can include or be based oninformation provided by the user 212 creating the team. For example, thestored metadata can include the team name, identifiers of the one ormore invitees, and the specification of whether the team shared folderis active or inactive. Creating the team can also include storingmetadata that indicates that the account of the user 212 who created theteam is a team account manager account of the team. Creating the teamcan also include creating the team shared folder in the serverrepository for the team.

In block 306, CISS system 210 sends notifications or causesnotifications to be sent to the specified invitees. For example, CISSsystem 210 may send e-mail messages and/or text messages to thespecified invitees. The notifications can indicate that the invitee hasbeen invited to join a team, the team name, and the user 212 who createdthe team. The notifications can also include a hyperlink (URL) which,when activated by the invitee, conveys the invitee's acceptance of theinvitation to join the team. Alternatively, the hyperlink can take theinvitee to a web page of CISS system 210 that allows the invitee toconvey acceptance. If the invitee does not wish to be a member of theteam, the invitee can ignore the notification.

In block 308, CISS system 210 synchronizes the team shared folder of theteam and its current contents from the server repository to the clientcomputing device 214 of the user 212 that created the team. Thissynchronization can include sending 226 synchronization datarepresenting the team shared folder created and its current contents inthe server repository for the team at block 304. The result of thissynchronization is that the client repository at the client computingdevice 214 of the user 212 that created the team has a copy of the teamshared folder and its current contents. The user 212 can now add filesand folders to the team shared folder in the client repository and thosefiles and folders will be synchronized back to CISS system 210 forstorage in the server repository for the team.

Accepting an Invitation to Join a Team

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for accepting aninvitation to join a team according to some embodiments of the presentinvention. Such a method can be performed by one or more computingdevices. For example, one or more steps of the example method shown canbe performed by CISS system 210. Although steps are depicted in FIG. 4as being performed in a certain order, some steps can be performed in adifferent order than depicted and/or performed concurrently with othersteps.

At block 402, CISS system 210 receives a request from an invitee to joina team for which the invitee received an invitation for. For example,receiving the request to join the team can include CISS system 210receiving one or more network requests 220 from a client computingdevice 214 of the invitee. The request to join the team can be made bythe invitee in the context of an existing non-team account of theinvitee, which case the invitee's existing account is converted to ateam account of the team. Alternatively, the request to join the teamcan be made by the invitee in the context of creating a new accountwhich will also be a team account of the team for the invitee.

At block 404, CISS system 210 joins the invitee's account to the team.This account can be an existing account of the invitee or a newlycreated account of the invitee as described in the preceding paragraph.Joining the invitee's account to the team as a team account can alsoinclude linking the invitee's client computing device 214 from which therequest to join the team was sent.

At block 406, CISS system 210 determines whether the team shared folderof the team is active. If active, then, at block 408, CISS system 210synchronizes the team shared folder of the team and its current contentsfrom the server repository for the team to the linked client computingdevice 214 of the invitee 212 that accepted the invitation to join theteam. This synchronization can include sending 226 synchronization datarepresenting the team shared folder and its current content in theserver repository for the team to the linked client computing device 214of the invitee 212 that accepted the invitation to join the team. Theresult of this synchronization is that the client repository at theclient computing device 214 of the invitee 212 that accepted theinvitation to join the team has a copy of the team shared folder and itscurrent contents at the linked client computing device 214.

If, at block 406, CISS system 210 determines that the team shared folderof the team is not active, then, at block 410, CISS system 210determines not to synchronize the team shared folder of the team to thelinked client computing device 214 of the invitee 212. However, even ifthe team shared folder is not active, the invitee's account is stilljoined to the team as a team account.

Deactivating the Team Shared Folder

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for deactivating the teamshared folder of a team according to some embodiments of the presentinvention. Such a method can be performed by one or more computingdevices. For example, one or more steps of the example method shown canbe performed by CISS system 210. Although steps are depicted in FIG. 5as being performed in a certain order, some steps can be performed in adifferent order than depicted and/or performed concurrently with othersteps.

A block 502, a request to deactivate the team shared folder of a team isreceived by CISS system 210 from a team account manager of the team whenthe team shared folder is active. Receiving the request can involvereceiving one or more network requests 220 from a linked clientcomputing device 214 of the team account manager.

At block 504, CISS system 210 causes the copies of the team sharedfolder in the client repositories of the linked client computing devices214 of team members 212 that are not team account managers to be removedfrom the client repositories. This removal can involve CISS system 210sending 226 synchronization data to the linked client computer of theteam members 212 that are not team account managers to remove the teamshared folder from the client repositories. Even though the team sharedfolder is removed from the client repositories, the server repository isretained (i.e., is not deleted). Further, the team shared folder is notremoved from the client repositories of the linked client computingdevices 214 of the team account managers 212. By not removing the teamshared folder from the server repository of the team or from the clientrepositories of the linked client computing devices 214 of the teamaccount managers 212, the team shared folder can continue to be modifiedand synchronized among the linked client computing devices 214 of theteam account managers 212.

Activating the Team Shared Folder

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for activating the teamshared folder of a team according to some embodiments of the presentinvention. Such a method can be performed by one or more computingdevices. For example, one or more steps of the example method shown canbe performed by CISS system 210. Although steps are depicted in FIG. 6as being performed in a certain order, some steps can be performed in adifferent order than depicted and/or performed concurrently with othersteps.

At block 602, a request to activate the team shared folder of a team isreceived by CISS system 210 from a team account manager of the team whenthe team shared folder is inactive. Receiving the request can involvereceiving one or more network requests 220 from a linked clientcomputing device 214 of the team account manager.

At block 604, CISS system 210 synchronizes the team shared folder andits current contents from the server repository for the team to at leastthe client repositories of the linked client computing devices 214 ofteam members 212 that are not team account managers. Thissynchronization can involve CISS system 210 sending 226 synchronizationdata to at least the linked client computing devices of the team members212 that are not team account managers. The result of thissynchronization is that at least the client repositories at the clientcomputing devices 214 of the team members 212 that are not team accountmanagers have a copy of the team shared folder and its current contentsat the linked client computing devices 214.

While the invention is described in some detail with specific referenceto a single-preferred embodiment and certain alternatives, there is nointent to limit the invention to that particular embodiment or thosespecific alternatives. For instance, those skilled in the art willappreciate that modifications may be made to the preferred embodimentwithout departing from the teachings of the present invention. Further,the sole and exclusive indicator of the scope of the invention, and whatis intended by the applicants to be the scope of the invention, is theliteral and equivalent scope of the set of claims that issue from thisapplication, in the specific form in which such claims issue, includingany subsequent correction.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method comprising:storing user account data specifying a plurality of user accounts thatare members of a particular team; wherein the user account dataspecifies that a first user account is a particular member of theparticular team; storing team shared folder configuration dataspecifying that a team shared folder of the particular team is active;wherein a copy of the team shared folder is stored at a first clientcomputing device linked to the first user account; receiving a request,from a second client computing device linked to a second user accountdifferent from the first user account, to deactivate the team sharedfolder of the particular team; based, at least in part, on receiving therequest to deactivate, performing a first synchronization with the firstclient computing device; wherein performing the first synchronizationcauses the copy of the team shared folder to be removed from the firstclient computing device linked to the first user account; and wherein,after performing the first synchronization that causes the copy of theteam shared folder to be removed from the first client computing devicelinked to the first user account, the user account data continues tospecify that the first user account is a member of the particular team.2. The method of claim 1, wherein the request to deactivate isassociated with the second user account that is a member of theparticular team and that is authorized to restrict access to the teamshared folder.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the request todeactivate is associated with the second user account that is a memberof the particular team and that is authorized to restrict access to theteam shared folder and wherein the second client computing device islinked to the second user account, the method further comprising: afterreceiving the request to deactivate, maintaining a second copy of theparticular team shared folder on the second client computing devicelinked to the second user account.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein theuser account data specifies that a third user account is not a member ofthe particular team, the method further comprising: receiving a requestto join the particular team, wherein the request to join is associatedwith the third user account; wherein a third client computing device islinked to the third user account; based, at least in part, on the teamshared folder configuration data, determining that the team sharedfolder is inactive; based, at least in part, on the receiving therequest to join, updating the user account data to specify that thethird user account is a member of the particular team, at a same timethe team shared folder configuration data continues to specify that theteam shared folder is inactive.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein theuser account data specifies that a third user account is not a member ofthe particular team, the method further comprising: receiving a requestto join the particular team, wherein the request to join is associatedwith the third user account; wherein a third client computing device islinked to the third user account; based, at least in part, on the teamshared folder configuration data, determining that the team sharedfolder is inactive; based, at least in part, on the receiving therequest to join the particular team, modifying the user account data tospecify that the second third user account is a member of the particularteam, at a same time the team shared folder configuration data continuesto specify that the team shared folder is inactive; after modifying theuser account data to specify that the second third user account is amember of the particular team, receiving a request to activate the teamshared folder of the particular team; after receiving the request toactivate, performing a second synchronization with the third clientcomputing device linked to the second third user account and performinga third synchronization with the first client computing device linked tothe first user account; wherein performing the third synchronizationcauses a first copy of the team shared folder to be stored at the firstclient computing device linked to the first user account; whereinperforming the second synchronization causes a second copy of the teamshared folder to be stored at the third client computing device linkedto the third user account.
 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:after storing the first copy of the team shared folder at the firstclient computing device linked to the first user account and storing thesecond copy of the team shared folder at the third client computingdevice linked to the third user account, receiving a request to removethe third user account from the particular team; modifying the useraccount data to remove the third user account from the particular team;the modifying the user account data to remove the third user accountfrom the particular team causing performing a fourth synchronizationwith the third client computing device; wherein, at a same time thefirst copy of the team shared folder is maintained at the first clientcomputing device linked to the first user account, the fourthsynchronization causing the second copy of the team shared folder to beremoved from the third client computing device linked to the third useraccount.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to the useraccount data specifying that the first user account is a member of theparticular team, sending an invitation to join the particular team tothe first client computing device linked to the first user account. 8.The method of claim 7, further comprising: prior to the user accountdata specifying that the first user account is a member of theparticular team, receiving an indication that the invitation to join theparticular team is accepted, wherein receiving the indication causesmodifying the user account data to specify that the first user accountis a member of the particular team.
 9. The method of claim 7, furthercomprising: sending the invitation for the first user account to jointhe particular team; prior to sending the invitation to the first clientcomputing device linked to the first user account, receiving a requestto send the invitation from the second client computing deviceassociated with the second user account that is not the first useraccount; wherein the second user account is a member of the particularteam and is authorized to restrict access to the team shared folder. 10.The method of claim 1, further comprising prior to performing the firstsynchronization, determining whether the team shared folder of theparticular team is active or inactive; wherein determining whether theteam shared folder of the particular team is active or inactivecomprises examining the team shared folder configuration data associatedwith the team shared folder that specifies whether the team sharedfolder is active or inactive.
 11. A server computer system comprising:one or more processors; one or more storage media storing one or morecomputer programs for execution by the one or more processors, the oneor more computer programs comprising instructions for: storing useraccount data specifying a plurality of user accounts that are members ofa particular team; wherein the user account data specifies that a firstuser account is a particular member of the particular team; storing teamshared folder configuration data specifying that a team shared folder ofthe particular team is active; wherein a copy of the team shared folderis stored at a first client computing device linked to the first useraccount; receiving a request, from a second client computing devicelinked to a second user account different from the first user account,to deactivate the team shared folder of the particular team; based, atleast in part, on receiving the request to deactivate, performing afirst synchronization with the first client computing device; whereinperforming the first synchronization causes the copy of the team sharedfolder to be removed from the first client computing device linked tothe first user account.
 12. The server computer system of claim 11,wherein the request to deactivate is associated with the second useraccount that is a member of the particular team and that is authorizedto restrict access to the team shared folder.
 13. The server computersystem of claim 11, wherein the request to deactivate is associated withthe second user account that is a member of the particular team and thatis authorized to restrict access to the team shared folder and whereinthe second client computing device is linked to the second user account,the instructions further configured for: after receiving the request todeactivate, maintaining a second copy of the particular team sharedfolder on the second client computing device linked to the second useraccount.
 14. The server computer system of claim 11, wherein the useraccount data specifies that a third user account is not a member of theparticular team, the instructions further configured for: receiving arequest to join the particular team, wherein the request to join isassociated with the third user account; wherein a third client computingdevice is linked to the third user account; based, at least in part, onthe team shared folder configuration data, determining that the teamshared folder is inactive; based, at least in part, on the receiving therequest to join, updating the user account data to specify that thethird user account is a member of the particular team, at a same timethe team shared folder configuration data continues to specify that theteam shared folder is inactive.
 15. The server computer system of claim11, wherein the user account data specifies that a third user account isnot a member of the particular team, the instructions further configuredfor: receiving a request to join the particular team, wherein therequest to join is associated with the third user account; wherein athird client computing device is linked to the third user account;based, at least in part, on the team shared folder configuration data,determining that the team shared folder is inactive; based, at least inpart, on the receiving the request to join the particular team,modifying the user account data to specify that the third user accountis a member of the particular team, at a same time the team sharedfolder configuration data continues to specify that the team sharedfolder is inactive; after modifying the user account data to specifythat the third user account is a member of the particular team,receiving a request to activate the team shared folder of the particularteam; after receiving the request to activate, performing a secondsynchronization with the third client computing device linked to thethird user account and performing a third synchronization with the firstclient computing device linked to the first user account; whereinperforming the third synchronization causes a first copy of the teamshared folder to be stored at the first client computing device linkedto the first user account; wherein performing the second synchronizationcauses a second copy of the team shared folder to be stored at the thirdclient computing device linked to the third user account.
 16. One ormore non-transitory computer-readable media storing one or more computerprograms for execution by a server computer system, the one or morecomputer programs comprising instructions for: storing user account dataspecifying a plurality of user accounts that are members of a particularteam; wherein the user account data specifies that a first user accountis a particular member of the particular team; storing team sharedfolder configuration data specifying that a team shared folder of theparticular team is active; wherein a copy of the team shared folder isstored at a first client computing device linked to the first useraccount; receiving a request, from a second client computing devicelinked to a second user account different from the first user account,to deactivate the team shared folder of the particular team; based, atleast in part, on receiving the request to deactivate, causing the copyof the team shared folder to be removed from the first client computingdevice linked to the first user account; and wherein, after removal ofthe copy of the team shared folder from the first client computingdevice linked to the first user account, the user account data continuesto specify that the first user account is a member of the particularteam.
 17. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media ofclaim 16, wherein the request to deactivate is associated with thesecond user account that is a member of the particular team and that isauthorized to restrict access to the team shared folder.
 18. The one ormore non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 16, wherein therequest to deactivate is associated with the second user account that isa member of the particular team and that is authorized to restrictaccess to the team shared folder and wherein the second client computingdevice is linked to the second user account, and wherein theinstructions are further configured for: after receiving the request todeactivate, maintaining a second copy of the particular team sharedfolder on the second client computing device linked to the second useraccount.
 19. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media ofclaim 16, wherein the user account data specifies that a third useraccount is not a member of the particular team, and wherein theinstructions are further configured for: receiving a request to join theparticular team, wherein the request to join is associated with thethird user account; wherein a third client computing device is linked tothe third user account; based, at least in part, on the team sharedfolder configuration data, determining that the team shared folder isinactive; based, at least in part, on the receiving the request to join,updating the user account data to specify that the third user account isa member of the particular team, at a same time the team shared folderconfiguration data continues to specify that the team shared folder isinactive.
 20. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media ofclaim 16, wherein the user account data specifies that a third useraccount is not a member of the particular team, and wherein theinstructions are further configured for: receiving a request to join theparticular team, wherein the request to join is associated with thethird user account; wherein a third client computing device is linked tothe third user account; based, at least in part, on the team sharedfolder configuration data, determining that the team shared folder isinactive; based, at least in part, on the receiving the request to jointhe particular team, modifying the user account data to specify that thethird user account is a member of the particular team, at a same timethe team shared folder configuration data continues to specify that theteam shared folder is inactive; after modifying the user account data tospecify that the third user account is a member of the particular team,receiving a request to activate the team shared folder of the particularteam; after receiving the request to activate, performing a secondsynchronization with the third client computing device linked to thethird user account and performing a third synchronization with the firstclient computing device linked to the first user account; whereinperforming the third synchronization causes a first copy of the teamshared folder to be stored at the first client computing device linkedto the first user account; wherein performing the second synchronizationcauses a second copy of the team shared folder to be stored at the thirdclient computing device linked to the third user account.